Posted By Eric Gorski On December 28, 2012 @ 8:48 am In Brewers,Colorado Beer,Year in Review | No Comments

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Yakobson’s barrel cellar in northwest Denver (Cyrus McCrimmon)

Editor’s note: As 2012 ends, we’re asking leading figures in Colorado brewing to reflect on the past year and look ahead to 2013. Our latest contribution comes from Chad Yakobson of the Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project[2], which relocated from Fort Collins to Denver this year. Yakobson’s wild and funky beers are getting wide acclaim – including from many colleagues who have praised Crooked Stave[3] in this series.

Favorite craft beer of the year:AC Golden[4]’s Hidden Barrel Apricot really jumps to mind. Golden Sour with local Colorado Apricots … What more could I ask for?

Colorado brewery of the year: River North, Matt is making some great beers over there at the former flying dog brewery now home to River North Brewing Co. Great Belgian influenced beers, with a scientific twist in naming. I’m a nerdy science dude!

Biggest craft beer news or trend in 2012: I love watching more and more people get on the Wild and Funky band wagon. There is no stopping breweries making creative and unique beers through tradition and non-traditional methods. Long live Brett!

Colorado brewery to watch in 2013:Upslope[5]! With their new brewery about to go online, the original brewhouse is going to be a brewers playground and that means even more exciting and tasty beer from them!

Craft beer trend to look for in 2013: Smoked beers! I would love to see a brewer make a tasty Colorado smoked malt beer. Troy are you reading this? [6]Otherwise oak smoked malt is where it’s at!